Car-brake mechanism.



1. KIRBY. 1R. CAR BRAKE MECHANISNI. APPLICATIUN FILED NOV..15. 1917.

Patented May 14,1918.

FATTE s narran s'rafrns rara OFFlCE.

JOHN KIRBY, JR., OF IDJYSF'LON,l OHIO- ASSGNOR TOTHE DAYTONMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION F OHIO.

CAR-BRAKE MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May le, 1918.

Application filed November 15, 1917. Serial No. 202,142.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN Knaur, Jr., a

citizen of the United States, and resident of panying drawings. whichform a part of my specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in car brake mechanism, and moreparticu-y larly to that class wherein the handle vor operating leverywhen turned in onedirection rotates the brake-shaft, and when turned inan opposite direction willY niove indeiendently of the brake-shaft. Theinvention further relates to brake operating mecl'ianisni wherein thenormal or inoperative position of the operating lever is substantiallyparallel with the brake-shaft and wherein the operative position. ofsaid lever is at right angles to the shaft.

The object of my invention is to produce a brake operating mechanismwherein a ratchet wheel .is fixedy to or formed on the brake-shaft and aspring actuated ratchet engaging member is mounted on the oporatinglever in such manner as to permit it to engage either of the teeth ofthe ratchet wheel to rotate the brake-shaft ina winding direction toapply the brakes, and to automatically move out of the path of saidteeth when the operating lever is moved in the opposite direction, andwhen the latter is dropped to its normal. position parallel with thebrake-shaft.

`With the aforesaid and other objects in view the invention consists inthe various novel details of construction'and combination of parts.hereinafter fully described in the specification, illustrated in thedrawings and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification. and inwhich like reference characters indicate corresponding parts, I haveillustrated one form of brake operating' mechanism embodying the essenwtial features of my invention, although the same may be carried intoeffect in other ways without in the least departing from the spiritthereof.

In the said drawings:l y

Figure l is a side view of the device partly in elevation and partly insection taken on the line A-A in Fig. 2, the operatnig lever being shownin its operative position by solid lines and in its inoperative positionby dotted lines. i

y Fig. i) is a top plan View of Fig. l, the sectioned portion beingtaken on the line B-B ofFig. l.

Fig. 3 is a broken side view ofthe connecting end of the operating leverdetached.

Fig. l is a perspective view of the ratchet engaging member detached.

Fig. 5 -is a sectional view through the Vlateral chamber showing therestraining de* vice and the adjacent extension with which it cooperatesto hold the operating lever against dropping of its own weight.

Referring to the drawings, l .is the brakeshaft, the lower portiony ofwhich may be.'

journaled in the car platform in the usual manner, and it may beprovided With the customary pawl and ratchet Wheel mounted on theplatform to hold the brakeshaft against retrograde movement during thelprocessl of setting the brakes and thereafter until the pawl is releasedby the foot ofthel operator. This mechanism is not shown for the reasonthat it constitutes no' part of my invention and is familiar t-o allthose having knowledge of such matters. 2 is ratchet` member mountedupon and rigidly secured tothe shaft,in the present instance by means ofpins 3, il., which pass through the ratchet member 2 and the shaft l,although this ratchet member may be formed integral with the shaft inlieu of forming it in aseparate piece. .ln order to reduce the ratchetmember to a diameter which shall not he ohliectionable the shaft isreduced at 5 andthe hole through the ratchet member is made to conformtherewith. The ratchet member 2 is provided with a series of verticallydisposed teeth 6 arranged around its periphery immediately opposite thereduced portion of the shaft and which terminate below the upper end ofthe said member, leaving a portion 7 of the latter extending above.- theteeth to receive the pin 3, as shown in F ig. l.

Surrounding the ratchet member 2 and resting upon the top thereof thereis loosely mounted upon the shaft a sleeve member or cylinder 8 held inplace on the shaft by a nut 9 which engages a reduced threaded end 10thereof. This sleeve `is adapted to be rotated in either directionindependently of the shaft and it is provided, at one side thereof, withlateral extensions 11, 1Q, having a top portion 113 forming an extensionof the top ofthe sleeve, the Wall of which is out away betiveen the saidlateral extensions. The said extensions together with a front portion 1aform a housing for an operating lever about to be described, t ie loweredge of the portion lil forming a stop which limits the upward movementof said lever. An operating lever 15 is pivot-ally mounted upon andbetween the said lateral extensions by means of a bolt 16 which passesthrough the said extensions and through the operating lever having ahead 17 at one end and a perforation to receive a cotter pin 18 at theopposite end, to prevent undue displacement of the bolt. The operatinglever being thus pivotallv mounted when in its normal or inoperativeposition hangs suspended upon the pivot bolt 16 substantially parallelwith the shaft as shoivn by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and when inoperative position the lever occupies a horizontal position, as shoivnby solid lines in said Fig. 1. The operating lever is in part hollow andat its connecting end forms a cham er in which there is mounted aratchet engaging member or vertically disposed spring actuated paivl 19operative upon a pintle F20 screwed into and through the top vvall ofthe lever and passing down through the body 21 of the pavvl into andthrough the bottom Wall of the lever. llhe free end of this pavvlentends outwardly through the open end of and beyond the end of theoperating lever and engages behind the teeth 6 of the ratchet member 2as the latter is rotated in a direction to set the brakes, Whichoperation is accomplished by turning the operating lever in thedirection indicated by the arroiv in Fig. Q. W hen the stroke iscompleted the operator reverses the movement of the lever and taires afresh grip during which operation the pavvl 19 rides over the inclined.surfaces of the teeth, being forced there-behind through the niedium ofa coil spring 22 having one end bearing against a shoulder 23 of a plug2a screwed through kone or the side Walls of the operating lever and itsopposite end eX- erting pressure against an arm :25 of the pavvl 19having a concaved recess 26 in Which the semispherical surface of aheadpiece 2T attached to the spring operates, movement of the pavvlbeing limited by shoulders 28, Q9 at the end of the operating lever, asbest shown in Fig. 2.

lt is to be understood that my invention contemplates setting the brakethrough a number of partial revolutions of the brakeshaft7 that is tosay, one strolre of the operating lever vvill rotate the shaft, say,onequarter of a revolution7 the lever then being reversed for anotherstroke, the operation being repeated until the brakes are fnll'vr set,

riscopre each partial revolution of the shaft being held againstretrograde movement by the pavvl and ratchet mechanism on the door ofthe platform and to which reference `has hereinbefore been made.

lt sometimes happens that ivhen the brakes are set and the retainingpaivl and ratchet previously referred to is released, the shaft refusesto unwind because of irregularity. ln such cases it becomes necessar)7to use force to free the brake chain and allow the shaft to perform itsproper function, To provide for such emergencls7 and adapt the mechanismof my present invention to the performance of such reverse action lprovide a pin 8O adapted to be inserted through a perforation 31 in theextension 13 of the sleeve 8 and through a corresponding perforation,not shown, in. the top Wall of the operating lever dovvn through asimilar perforation 32 in the bottom Wall of said lever iinmediateljTbehind the pavvl 19 so as to loch the same in engagement `with itsco-acting ratchet tooth and thus provide a means whereby the shaft mayYbe operated in a reverse direction. support 33 is provided for the pinwhen out of servicea and a chain 3e secures it against removal from thebrake mechanism,

The operating lever is provided vvith a lateral chamber 35, so locatedas to be Within the space formed between the lateral entensions 11, 12Whatever may be the position of the said lever. lllithin this chamberthere located a spiral spring 36 having one end hearing against thebottom of the chamber and its other end being provided with a roundedhead-piece 37 having a shoulder 38 to receive the adjoining end of thespring which, when the operating lever is in operative position pressesthe headpiece 37 outward into a corresponding detent 39 formed in theinner surface of the extension 11 of the sleeve 8, the purpose of thisfeature of the invention being to restrain the operating lever from dropping of its own Weight While in operative position, thus relieving theoperator from the necessitjyr of holding the said lever up against itsinclination to drop to its normal position during the brake settingoperation7 it being understood that a slight pressure on the lever ivillrelease the spring pressed head-piece and leave the lever free to dropby gravity to its normal position. This particular feature of nivinvention is not neces saril7 conned to the brake operating mechanismherein described but is applicable also to other types in Which drophandle or operating levers are employed.

To operate the foregoing described Winding mechanism the operator raisesthe operating lever from its normal or inoperative position to itsoperative or horizontal position, in doing which the spring actuatedpawl being mounted in the said lever will automaticall f swine' intoosition behindV one of the ratchet teeth and establish operativeconnection with the brake-shaft which can then be rotated by turning theoperating lever, the said operative connection being broken by thedropping of the operating lever, winch 1n swinging to its normal or l.In car brake mechanism, the combination of a shaft adapted to berotated, a

ratchet carried by the shaft andfrotatable therewith, the member mountedupon the shaft and rotatable thereon independently thereof, an operatinglever in pivotal connection with said member, and a vertically disposedspring actuated member pivotally mounted upon said operating leveradapted to engage said ratchet whereby the shaft may be rotated. A

In car brake mechanism, the combina! tion 4of a shaft adapted to berotated, a ratchet carried by the shaft and .rotatable therewith, amember mounted Vupon the shaft and rotatablev thereon independently`thereof, an operating lever in pivotal connection with said member,and-a vertically disposed spring actuated pawl pivotally mounted uponsaid operating lever adapted to automatically engagel said ratchetwhereby the shaft may be rotated.

3. In car bra-he mechanism, the combination of a shaft, a ratchetcarried by and rotatable with the shaft, a member mounted upon the shaftand rotatable independently thereof, an operating lever in pivotalconnection with said member, and. a 'vertically disposed spring actuatedpawl pivotally mounted upon said operating lever adapted to engage theteeth of said ratchet whereby said lever when turned in,0ne directionkwill rotate the shaft and when turned in the opposite direction willmove independently of the shaft.

l. In car brake mechanism, the combination of a shaft, a ratchet carriedby androtatable with the shaft, a member mounted upon the shaft androtatable independently thereof, an operating lever in pivotalconnection with said member, and a second member comprising a verticallydisposed pawl pivotally mounted upon ksaid operating lever and adaptedto swing in and out of engagement with the teeth of said ratchet withthe raising and lowering of said operating lever; whereby when saidlever is turned in one direction the shaft will be rotated and whenturned in the opposite direction said lever and said second member willmove independently of the shaft.

5. In carbrake mechanism, the combination of a shaft having a ratchettherearound, of a member mounted upon said shaft and rotatable thereonindependently thereof, an operating lever pivotally mounted upon saidmember, and mechanism comprising a vertically disposed spring actua-tedpawl pivotally mount-ed upon said lever and adapted to automaticallyestablish operative connection between said lever and said shaft wherebythe same may be rotated.

(l. In car brake mechanism, the combination of a shaft and a ratchetadapted to be rotated, a member mounted upon the shaft and rotatableindependently thereof, an operating lever in pivotal connection withsaid member and having an elevated operative position and a dependingnormal position, and vertically pivoted pawl mechanism mounted on saidylever arranged to engage said'ratchet when the'lever is elevated andthereby establish operative connection with the shaft to rotate the sameg the said connection being broken by the downwa rd movement of thelever.

T. In car brake mechanism, the. combination of a shaft, a circularmember having ratchet teeth formed in its peripheral surface carried byand rotatable with said shaft, a second member carried by and rotatableindependently of the shaft, an operating lever in pivotal connectionwith said second mehr ber being normally suspended upon its pivot andadapted to be swung to a horizontal position, and a vertically arrangedspring actuated ratchet engaging member pivotally mounted upon saidoperating lever whereby in raising the same to a horizontal positionoperative connection between the shaft and said lever will beestablished, said connection being broken by the downward move'- ment ofthe lever.

8. In car brake mechanism, the combination of a shaft havinga ratchetadapted toL be rotated, a member mounted upon said shaft and adapted'tobe rotated independentlythereof, an operating lever in pivotalconnection with said member and normally suspended upon its pivot, a.chamber formed in one end of said operating lever, and a verticallydisposed spring actuated ratchet engaging member pivotally .mounted uponsaid lever. within said chamber; whereby when `said lever' is raised toa horizontal position said ratchet engaging member will automaticallyengage said ratchet and thereby establish operative connection betweensaid shaft and said lever.

9. In car brake mechanism, the combination of a shaft having a ratchetadapted to be rotated, a member mounted upon said shaft and adapted tobe rotated independent-ly thereof, an operating lever in pivotalconnection With said membe and normally suspended upon its pivot, achamber termed in one end of said operating lever, a vertically disposedratchet engaging member pivotally mounted upon said lever Within. saidchamber, and yieldable means tor forcing said ratchet engaging memberinto operative engagement with said ratchet.

l0. ln car brake mechanism, the combina tion ot a rotatable shaft andratchet, a sleeve loosely mounted upon the ,shaft and having` membersextending laterally therefrom an operating lever pivotally mounted uponsaid lateral members and normally suspended upon its pivot, andvertically disposed spring actuated mechanism pivotally mounted uponsaid operating lever adapted to engage said i ratchet and there yestablish operative connection With the shalt whereby the same may berotated.

il. ln car brake mechanism, the combination with a shaft provided vvithmeans for its rotation, a member mounted upon and rotatableindependently ot the shaft, an operating lever in pivotal coimectionwith said member and normally suspended upon its pivot, verticallydisposed spring actuated mechanism pivotally mounted upon said lever andadapted to svving into and out oi engagement with said means and therebyestablish operative connection whereby said shaft may be rotated, and adevice tor loclting said mechanism in operative connection With theshatt whereby the latter may be rotated in either direction.

i2. ln car brake mechanism, the combinaA tion with shaft provided withmeans for its rotatioin of a member mounted upon and rotatableindependently ci the shalt; said member having lateral extensionsforming a support for an operating lever, an operating lever pivotallymounted upon said extensions and normally suspended upon its pivot7vertically disposed spring actuated mechanism pivoted on said lever andadapted to swing into and out of engagement with said means and therebyestablish operative connection whereby said shaft may be rotated, and a.removable pin adapted to loch said mechanism in operative engagementWith the shalt vvhereby the latter may be rotated in either direction.

13, ln car brake mechanism, the combination ot a shaft provided withmeans tor its rotation, member mounted upon and rotable independentlyTot the shaft; said member having lateral extensions forming a supfincense port for an `operating lever, an operating lever pivotallymounted upon said extensions and normally suspended upon its pivot7 andmeans whereby the operating vlever is restrained t'romdropping ot'. itsovvn Weight When the lever is in operative position.

il. ln car brake mechanism, the combination of a shaft provided withmeans for its v rotation7 a member mounted upon and rotatableindependently of the shaft.; said member having lateral extensions'Forming a support for an operating .leven lever pivotally mounted upond extensions and normally suspended upon its pivot. and spring actuatedmechanism intermediate said extensions and said lever to restrain the lever 'from dropping ot its own Weight vvhen in operative position.

l5. A new article ot miuiutacture comu prising a chambered operatinglever adapted to be pivotallj,7 connected with a brake-shaft having aratchet thereon and to be swung in a vertical plane uponits pivot, avertically disposed ratchet engaging member pivotally mounted in thechamber and having a. branch arm extending therefrom, and spring mech-:mism adapted to exert pressure against said branch arm to :torce saidmember into operative engagement with said ratchet.

i6. A neuf article of manufacture compris-- ing a chambered operatinglever adapted to rotate a brake-shaft having a ratchet thereon? aratchet engaging member mounted in the chamber having a branch armextending therefrom, spring mechanism adapted 'to e);n ert pressureagainst said branch arm to torce said member into operative engagementwith said ratchet, and a spring device mounted in one ot the vvalls ofsaid operating lever adapted to retain said operating lever in anelevated position.

i7. new article of manutacture comprising a chambered operating leveradapted to rotate a brake-shaft having a ratchet thereon, a ratchetengaging member mounted in. the chamber having a branch arm extendingtherefrom, spring mechanism adapted to exert pressure against saidbranch arm to force said member into operative enga gement with saidratchet, means tor locking said meinber in operative engagement Withsaid ratchet? and a spring device mounted in one or the Walls ot saidoperating lever adapted to retain said lever in an elevated position.

JGHN lIlRBY, flu.

"Witnesses W. Emmons, Jr., H. D. Banouma.

oil this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, or aich'essng the@oiamlssoaer ot retentir Washington, E?. HG.

an operating y lll),

